BigBendFishing.Net

Compare the Dec 23 photo to this one from 3 days ago when north winds were about 15mph and windchill took temps to low 40s. About a foot lower at the ramp. Perfect for winter Refuge creek hike-fishing, if you remember to bring handwarmers!

014.JPG 014.JPG Hope these pix show up. 24 inch redfish and 28 inch trout, both caught within minutes after the airboat courteously throttled back as soon as the driver saw me wadefishing from the shallow muddy bank. Apologies for poor quality on the trout photo, but I needed to get her back into t...

I must give credit where credit is due. Three days ago, with forecast negative tides and a strong north wind, I biked/hiked to one of my favorite St Marks Refuge creeks. Expected to have it to myself, given the conditions. Just as I got set up, the angry blast of an airboat at the creek mouth killed...

Good point, SG. But from a practical stance, the only law enforcement I ever encounter at the Refuge is FWC. So, even if they are a bit off base, they are calling the shots. Not complaining about FWC, but this does explain both airboats AND the new trend of folks who zip past me on the levees with e...

Regarding earlier discussion on this thread: I was chatting with an FWC officer who was checking licenses at the SMNWR Friday. He stated that airboats are NOT prohibited in the Refuge; they just can't launch at the Lighthouse Ramp.

Possibly about the same time you took this pic, I started a hike on one of the St Marks Refuge levees with some of my former high school runners. Fishing the creeks east of the lighthouse on foot, we lucked into multiple schools of upper slot trout, and a few slot reds. Caught over two dozen trout b...

FlyrodC, I congratulate you on hijacking this thread to serve my interests... YES! I still own a box of 20 classic Al Brunell steelhead flies, with his signed business card in the box. Never used. If you can tie a slow sinking streamer that resembles a finger mullet or banded killifish (known in Wak...

From Webster's Dictionary, first definition... DEMOCRACY. A government by the people, especially: rule of the majority. REPUBLIC. A government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president. BTW, I have no party affiliation, due to an allergic reaction to...

I second Salty Gator's comment. As an extreme low tide hiker in the SMNWR tidal creeks, I have witnessed airboats ramming through an inch of water in those waterways. I could certainly be wrong (happy to accept corrections), but always wondered if the bottom grass that airboats pummeled was incurrin...

Glad you are just joking, RockyG!

8' cast net, 1/2 or 3/8 inch mesh, 3/4lb weight per radius foot.

Mud Cove has come up four times for me between this forum, other forums, and emails. So I will try there after next cold snap and post results.

Actually, I had been thinking of bringing home the $2.75/dozen bait shrimp at Woodville Lumber Supply as Plan B. Will keep that in my back pocket if forum tips don't pay off.

Just now checked PMs. Redbeard/Troutfisher/Onthechew: THANKS! I owe you all inside scoop on SMNWR fishery. PM me your preferences (high or low tide) and I'll let you know what/where works best for for me on Refuge creeks from the lighthouse east (Horns Creek to Porpoise Creek). Apologies in advance ...

Update: from a few emails, apparently Mud Cove is a potential spot for fall/winter shrimp run, but I have no experience netting shrimp there.